MASUK IS NO. 1
Panthers finish the season where they started it, on top
When the preseason poll was released in April, three-time defending Class L champion Masuk was voted the No. 1 team in the state, receiving 12 first place votes in the GameTimeCT poll.
Masuk would lose its opening day game against Ludlowe as well as its No. 1 ranking. But the Panthers bounced back in convincing fashion, winning 26 straight, including tournament championships in both the South-West Conference and CIAC Class L to reclaim the top spot in final poll of the season.
Masuk has now finished the year as the No. 1 team for a fourth consecutive season dating back to 2018 after claiming its fourth straight Class L title with a 4-0 win over Waterford and earning eight firstplace votes with the dust settled.
Masuk, Southington and Fairfield Ludlowe created a bit of a triangle during the season. When Ludlowe defeated Masuk 2-0 on opening day, Ludlowe took over the No. 1 spot and held it throughout the regular season. Ludlowe lost to Southington 7-3 in the Class LL semifinals, but Southington’s lone loss during the regular season came to Masuk 6-0.
With both Masuk and Southington winning state titles, that regular season head-to-head matchup appears to be what has propelled the Panthers ahead of the Blue Knights in voters’ minds.
Class LL champion Southington finishes the year as the No. 2 team in the state with three first-place votes. Southington has now won three straight Class LL titles.
Coming in at No. 3 is the only undefeated team, Woodland. The Hawks did not play fellow Top 4 mainstays Masuk, Southington or Ludlowe. The Class M champions still received three first-place votes.
Ludlowe held the No. 1 spot for most of the year and carried it into the state tournament after winning its second straight FCIAC title. Ludlowe was eliminated by Southington in the Class LL semifinals and dropped to No. 4.
Class L runner-up Waterford flirted with the Top 5 all season and ends the year as the No. 5 team after its impressive postseason run